A Novel Core Effector Vp1 Promotes Fungal Colonization and Virulence of Ustilago maydis.

ABSTRACT: The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis secretes a plethora of uncharacterized effector proteins and causes smut disease in maize. Among the effector genes that are up-regulated during the biotrophic growth in maize, we identified vp1 (virulence promoting 1), which has an expression that was up-regulated and maintained at a high level throughout the life cycle of the fungus. We characterized Vp1 by applying in silico analysis, reverse genetics, phenotypic assessment, microscopy, and protein localization and provided a fundamental understanding of the Vp1 protein in U. maydis. The reduction in fungal virulence and colonization in the vp1 mutant suggests the virulence-promoting function of Vp1. The deletion studies on the NLS (nuclear localization signal) seq

SUBMITTER: Hoang CV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8396986 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature